How CBD Decreases Lupus Pain
Disclaimer
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles here are written by a Functional Medicine Holistic Nutritionist. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
How CBD Decreases Lupus Pain
- In our body, we have an endocannabinoid system. We don’t have a Tylenol or ibuprofen system so you can see how it works so much better already. This system helps us regulate nerve function, muscle coordination, immunity, and blood circulation. It’s made of receptors CB1 and CB2. CB1 is found in the brain and CNS. CB2 is found in the immune system, peripheral organs, and tissues of the muscular and cardiovascular system. Cannabinoids indirectly or directly activate these receptors which respond by reducing pain and inflammation, desensitizing our body to recognizing pain, or increase serotonin levels which help us feel less pain.
- There are many triggers of lupus and some we can’t control. However, I’ve learned that our environment is the biggest culprit. From what we eat, to who we surround ourselves with. CBD can help us with symptoms of lupus pain if we’re eating inflammatory foods, if we’re stressed out, and when we push ourselves too far if we workout. While it can be overwhelming that there are 100’s of different strains of CBD, there are 5 top ones to check out in the video below.
- The most important thing to do before buying CBD oil for lupus pain is to ensure you’re buying from a reputable company. Make sure it’s not an MLM company, has 3rd party testing that is properly qualified, and made without any added chemicals.
As a potent painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent, cannabis topicals and edibles help drastically decrease and prevent arthritic and lupus pain, rashes, and itchy skin from pretty much anything. Research shows that cannabis use actually allows us to decrease opiate use too. Many pain management doctors are switching their patients to cannabis due to the overwhelming benefits and no worry about negative side effects.
CBD is the holy grail of lupus pain relief and will give you your life back IF:
- Your CBD was bought from a company that didn’t reduce the quantity of CBD by replacing it with carrier oils (they don’t tell you)
- Which makes it not work for you
- Wasted your money and feel disappointed
- People like me know this because we do research before suggesting brands 🙂
- You bought the right strain (there’s a ton) for your ailments and your body
Does that sound complicated and overwhelming?
It doesn’t have to be.
The CBD Gods were like, “Janeen, I have this natural medicinal plant that everyone is confusing the daylights out of and companies are taking advantage of sick people who are desperate to be pain-free, can you help me, help them?”
I was like “UH Yes, I got you”.
So, here it goes.
I’m going to show you exactly how to find the right CBD or marijuana strain so that you can PREVENT lupus pain and inflammation with CBD and cannabis products.
Are you wondering why I said CBD and cannabis? They’re not the same thing.
If you didn’t know that there are probably a few other things that you didn’t know and need to. Read CBD for Lupus: What You Thought You Knew, But Didn’t. It explains the difference between both and how cannabinoids work within our body to reduce pain, anxiety, depression, and inflammation.
Now, back to the amazing benefits of CBD and why it’s the best thing ever created by mother Earth.
Triggers of Lupus Pain
Lupus is activated (triggered) by environmental factors. That means the symptoms we experience every day is due to our environment – boooo!
Now let’s take that one step further…
Since lupus is triggered by environmental factors we have control over what we expose ourselves too (most of the time).
We can control the majority of things that go on or in our bodies. Even on a budget!
You’re probably thinking, then why doesn’t everyone have lupus? The other piece to the puzzle is genetics. So, it’s a mixture of both.
We have more control over the severity of our Lupus than once thought.
Do you suffer from:
- GI problems (bloating, cramping, pain, constipation)
- Migraines
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Chest pain (not heart-related)
- Joint swelling
- Brain fog
- Random rashes all over your body (butterfly ones too)
Well, these are types of lupus pain that we experience.
Good news, they all have similar triggers!
I know that it’s beyond frustrating to constantly hear how pretty much everything that goes on in our lives can trigger lupus pain. That’s because we all share a similar lifestyle. That lifestyle is the “normal” way of living.
However, just because something is “common” or “normal” doesn’t make it okay. That’s why I know sharing this list of triggers and what to do will be the best benefit you’ve ever had.
Now most of us hate change and the thought of it is daunting. It’s scary!
Don’t get overwhelmed and mad just yet.
Daily, I go through the moans and groans of the fact that I can’t live a convenient lifestyle like all my friends and family. But, then I realize that I feel incredible now because I chose to take care of my body so that I don’t suffer anymore. I can do whatever they do (and more). Lupus doesn’t hold me back anymore.
Are you sick of suffering? Sick of hiding in your home every day, sick of hearing people say “you don’t look sick” while you feel like death is knocking on your door?
Check out the list below of lupus pain triggers.
- Complex, simple carbs and refined sugar
- Complex carbs that we should avoid: white rice, potatoes, white bread, and pasta. Good ones are nuts, veggies, quinoa, fiber-rich fruit/veggies.
- Simple carbs like soda, baked treats, packaged cookies, cereal (loaded with sugar!)
- Refined sugar: dessert toppings, candy, processed foods (cereal, snack bars, juice, fruit snacks) with added sugar.
- Exercise (yes, that’s right)
- Working out muscles without properly activating them first can cause damage, swelling, and inflammation. CBD is something I use if this happens on accident because even though we try, sometimes we don’t avoid it! It helps with my bursitis in my knee and shoulder.
- Dairy
- Those with autoimmune disease are affected by dairy more. Dairy is inflammatory and creates an acidic environment. Acidic body = active disease.
- Gluten
- Gluten should be avoided for most lupies, especially if you have thyroid issues. The gluten protein closely resembles our thyroid protein. Since our immune system is faulty, it will attack your thyroid as you eat gluten.
- Chronic stress
- Stress is the number 1 trigger of lupus symptoms. Stress breaks down our immune system too because we are overworking hormones too often. If there is a constant stress in your life that can be modified, sometimes we have to make hard decisions for what would be better in the long run for us. You come first!
- The sun
- The UV rays from the sun trigger our WBCs to attack our skin, causing rashes and extreme fatigue. CBD oil on the rashes reduces itch, swelling, redness, and pain.
- Chemicals in supplements/hair products
- Most companies take the vitamin and break it down chemically. Then, they add a chemically similar version or use a cheap source and add fillers to make a larger profit. Read Vitamins for Lupus – What They Don’t Tell you to learn more.
- Solvents in hair dye, skin products, and nail polish
- Other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions that are not well-controlled or diagnosed.
- Autoimmune issues: Thyroid disease – read The Thyroid and Lupus Connection, Sjogren’s, celiac’s, Fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, lupus nephritis, etc.
- Inflammatory: Candida overgrowth, STD’s (HSV1&2), Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, etc.
- These are not commonly tested for in conventional medicine. Once you see a functional practitioner like me, we test your stool in-depth and find tons of overgrowths of bacteria that trigger all of your symptoms! This is what I did to myself and have healed by starting with getting rid of the overgrowth of good bacteria – yes, we can have too much of a good thing!
Lifestyle Modifications
- Complex carbs and refined sugar/Dairy/Gluten/Soy
- The Best Lupus Diet, read this to learn more!
- Use Pinterest for delicious paleo or autoimmune paleo recipes. I really don’t miss dairy or gluten because I can make tasty and healthier versions that aren’t time-consuming. The goal for you is to heal your leaky gut so you don’t have to be so strict with diet change. This takes time and most likely will need a personalized protocol for complete healing.
- Exercise
- We’re all a little different in terms of the “right” exercise for our body. However, go on YouTube and search for “low impact workouts”, “modified yoga for “body part here”, daily stretching, and proper breathing techniques. It may seem silly to learn how to breathe all over again, but our breathing is kind of connected to our autonomic nervous system, which triggers an overflow of chemicals to surge through our bodies constantly. That can exhaust our adrenal glands which makes us exhausted and more sensitive to lupus pain.
- Chronic stress
- CBD oil to reduce lupus stress is one of my go-to’s. Especially before bed for a good night’s sleep! Avoiding stress is really hard. Mindset and learning coping skills can really change your life. That’s what I talk about in my Lupus Life Hacks ® Facebook group. Without your health you have nothing. Learn when to say “no”, when to say, “goodbye”, and when to ask for help without feeling guilty.
- The sun
- CBD oil can help reduce rashes, itch, and skin inflammation. If you suffer from heat exhaustion, fuel your body with electrolytes like, Go Ultima or Nuun. My lifesaver is the ThermApparel undershirt cooling vest. It’s something that regulates our body temperature when it’s too hot for us. I love that it hides under my shirt and it’s reusable.
- Chemicals in supplements/hair products
- Companies are required to list what they use most first to last. Don’t be intimidated by science terms. But, when buying a product, if the company is advertising that”x” ingredient is in it it’s important to see where it is on the list. Read the ingredient section and see where it’s listed in order from first to last. If it’s not the first ingredient or at least the 3rd, then they’re fooling you. Save your money and keep it simple with natural products with no additives like at Lupus Health Shop.
- Other inflammatory or autoimmune conditions that are not well-controlled or diagnosed.
How CBD Decreases Lupus Pain
In our body, we have an endocannabinoid system. We don’t have a Tylenol or ibuprofen system! This system helps us regulate nerve function, muscle coordination, immunity, and blood circulation.
It’s made of receptors CB1 and CB2. CB1 is found in the brain and CNS. CB2 is found in the immune system, peripheral organs, and tissues of the muscular and cardiovascular system.
Basically cannabinoids affect pain from nociceptive pain by recruiting CB2 receptors.
Nociceptive pain comes from damaged tissues and influenced by the immune system (chronic pain, inflammation, arthritis, IBS, lupus).
If you have nerve pain or neuropathic pain, then CBD helps spike serotonin CB1 receptors. Higher serotonin and dopamine levels help us feel better naturally, happier and less affected by pain.
THC, a cannabinoid binds to CB1 receptors and that’s one reason why you should have full-spectrum CBD products. A little bit of THC is helpful. CBD doesn’t really bind to the cannabinoid receptors well, but it helps reduce the psychoactive effects of THC, making them a great pair.
CBD binds to different receptors and activates them to produce therapeutic effects. It influences ion channels that control the release of different chemicals too.
CBD stimulates TRPV1 receptor and enhances the function. It helps desensitize your feelings to pain. That’s one of many reasons why it works so well.
Do you know the connection between reduced muscle spams and CBD oil?
First, our body produces anandamide which has analgesic properties when it activates the CB1 receptors in our endocannabinoid system.
CBD enhances anandamide levels. Anandamide stimulates CB1 receptors which products antispasmodic effects! Say goodbye to muscle spasms!
Best Strains of CBD and Cannabis for Lupus
This video really breaks down the 5 best strains for various ailments related to lupus from inflammation to anxiety!
